A municipal official from Fujikawaguchiko regrets building the massive barrier and views it as a last resort
The length of a cricket pitch (20 metres) will be blocked from viewing Mount Fuji at a popular photo location by a 2.5-meter-high mesh net that Japanese officials, irritated by misbehaving foreign visitors, are planning to erect. An official from the town of Fujikawaguchiko stated that construction might begin as early as next week.
“We find it regrettable that we have to take this action due to some tourists who disregard rules,” he said, citing concerns with traffic laws and trash. He spoke to Agence France-Presse.
This action is a part of a larger Japanese trend aimed at curbing overtourism. Visitors were prohibited from entering Kyoto’s geisha district through narrow private lanes earlier this year.
Foreign visitor numbers to Japan have increased dramatically; in March, they surpassed 3 million for the first time.
The highest mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji, is viewable from a number of locations in the resort town of Fujikawaguchiko. Because it provides a glimpse of the magnificent and active volcano behind a common Lawson convenience shop, this particular perspective is well-liked.
The town official, who wished to remain anonymous, clarified that the spot’s attractiveness as a photo site stems from the visual difference that has given rise to a reputation on social media for being extremely Japanese. This has drawn a crowd that is primarily non-Japanese, causing congestion on the sidewalk in front of the Lawson store.
The community in Yamanashi region chose the big screen as a last choice, ignoring traffic signs and security officers’ repeated warnings. The official stated that the decision was partly driven by the need to protect a nearby dental clinic from visitors who often park there without authorization and have even been seen scaling the clinic’s roof in an attempt to get the ideal photo.
The official said that the current idea is for the screen to stay in place until the situation improves and expressed sadness that such action was required.
Since the border restrictions from the pandemic era have eased, Japan has grown in popularity as a travel destination, and the government has been actively seeking to boost the country’s tourism industry. Not everyone, especially in Kyoto, has been pleased with this, as locals have expressed displeasure over tourists upsetting the city’s geisha.
The most popular path up Mount Fuji will cost hikers ¥2,000 (£10.50, $13.35, A$20.50) apiece this summer, and only a certain number of climbers will be allowed to avoid crowding.
Overtourism is a problem that other places are also facing. Recently, tens of thousands of people in the Canary Islands demanded a limit on the number of visitors, and Venice started charging day-trippers to enter the city.
